Restricting available battery power

Abstract

According to one embodiment, controlling a battery-powered vehicle can comprise receiving, at a control system of the vehicle over a network connection, a first set of parameters. Each parameter of the first set of parameters can be directed to one or more of a plurality of aspects of operating a battery system of the vehicle. The control system of the vehicle can save the first set of parameters and apply the first set of parameters to operations of the vehicle. Applying the first set of parameters to operations of the vehicle can comprise controlling operations of the battery system of the vehicle to limit power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a control system of the vehicle over a network connection, a first set of parameters, each parameter of the first set of parameters directed to one or more of a plurality of aspects of operating a battery system of the vehicle;   saving, by the control system of the vehicle, the first set of parameters; and   applying, by the control system of the vehicle, the first set of parameters to operations of the vehicle, wherein applying the first set of parameters to operations of the vehicle comprises controlling operations of the battery system of the vehicle to limit power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein limiting power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters comprises limiting a range of travel of the vehicle to a specific distance, a geographic area, or a time of day. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein limiting power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters comprises reducing a required charging interval. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein reducing the required charging interval comprises selectively charging rolling cells in the battery system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein reducing the required charging interval comprises increasing a discharge rate of the battery system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein reducing the required charging interval comprises providing indications that a charge level is progressively decreasing and that a charge is required. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, clearing the indications without charging the battery system when the vehicle is connected to a charger. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the control system of the vehicle over the network connection, a second set of parameters, the second set of parameters comprising at least one parameter corresponding to a parameter in the first set of parameters but having a different value;   saving, by the control system of the vehicle, the second set of parameters; and   applying, by the control system of the vehicle, the second set of parameters to operations of the battery system of the vehicle, wherein applying the second set of parameters to operations of the battery system vehicle comprises controlling operations of the battery system of the vehicle to increase power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the second set of parameters.   
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle, the method comprising:
 determining, by a remote operator system, a first set of parameters, each parameter of the first set of parameters directed to one or more of a plurality of aspects of operating a battery system of the vehicle;   saving, by the remote operator system, the first set of parameters; and   providing, by the remote operator system over a network connection to a control system of the vehicle, the set of initial parameters, wherein the control system of the vehicle controls operations of the battery system of the vehicle to limit power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one parameter of the first set of parameters indicates a limit on a range of travel of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one parameter indicating the limit on the range of travel of the vehicle indicates a specific distance. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one parameter indicating the limit on the range of travel of the vehicle indicates a geographic area. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one parameter indicating the limit on the range of travel of the vehicle indicates a time of day. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining, by the remote operator system, a second set of parameters, the second set of parameters comprising at least one parameter corresponding to a parameter in the first set of parameters but having a different value;   saving, by the remote operator system, the second set of parameters; and   providing, by the remote operator system over the network connection to the control system of the vehicle, the second set of parameters, wherein the control system of the vehicle controls operations of the battery system of the vehicle to increase power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the second set of parameters.   
     
     
         15 . A system comprising
 a remote operator system comprising a processor and a memory having stored therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to control operation of a battery-powered vehicle by:
 determining a first set of parameters, each parameter of the first set of parameters directed to one or more of a plurality of aspects of operating a battery system of the vehicle; 
 saving the first set of parameters; and 
 providing, over a network connection to the vehicle, the set of initial parameters; and 
   a control system of the vehicle comprising a processor and a memory having stored therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to control operation of the by:
 receiving, over the network connection, the first set of parameters; 
 saving the first set of parameters; and 
 applying the first set of parameters to operations of the vehicle, wherein applying the first set of parameters to operations of the vehicle comprises controlling operations of the battery system of the vehicle to limit power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein limiting power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters comprises limiting a range of travel of the vehicle to a specific distance, a geographic area, or a time of day. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein limiting power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the first set of parameters comprises reducing a required charging interval. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein reducing the required charging interval comprises selectively charging, by the control system of the vehicle, rolling cells in the battery system, increasing, by the control system of the vehicle, a discharge rate of the battery system, or providing, by the control system of the vehicle, indications that a charge level is progressively decreasing and that a charge is required. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising, clearing, by the control system of the vehicle, the indications without charging the battery system when the vehicle is connected to a charger. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining, by the remote operator system, a second set of parameters, the second set of parameters comprising at least one parameter corresponding to a parameter in the first set of parameters but having a different value;   saving, by the remote operator system, the second set of parameters;   providing, by the remote operator system over the network connection to the control system of the vehicle, the second set of parameters;   receiving, at the control system of the vehicle over the network connection, the second set of parameters;   saving, by the control system of the vehicle, the second set of parameters; and   applying, by the control system of the vehicle, the second set of parameters to operations of the battery system of the vehicle, wherein applying the second set of parameters to operations of the battery system vehicle comprises controlling operations of the battery system of the vehicle to increase power available from the battery system of the vehicle based on the second set of parameters.